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Egyptian singer jailed for ‘controversial’ online music video

An Egyptian court has apparently sent a singer to jail for two years. Her crime – she appeared in anonline musicvideo in her underwear and performing suggestive actions.

25-year old Shaimaa (professionally known as Shyma), was arrested after her music online sparked outrage in a mostly conservative country. People can also listen mp3 online apart from viewing the video on social networking websites.

She has thus been found guilty of inciting debauchery and publishing an indecent film, local media said. The online music video’s director has also been sentenced for tow years in prison.

‘’I have Issues’’

Shyma’s latest music songs, titled ‘’I have issues’’ is an English song. It sparks controversy due to people claiming that she disrupts the morality in society.

She has been fined 10,000 Egyptian pounds ($560), and can appeal the verdict to a higher court.

“I didn’t imagine all this would happen and that I would be subjected to such a strong attack from everyone,” she wrote on social networking websites.

Shyma has however denied the accusations, saying the director included the controversial scenes without her consent.

Previous Instances

This is not the first instance where Egyptian courts have acted against entertainment culture. The courts sentenced three female dancers to six months each in prison after convicting them of inciting debauchery in their online music.

Another singer – Sherine Abdel Waheb sung a non-english song – Mashrebtesh Men Nilha (Have you drunk from the Nile?). She too has been booked for ‘’spreading provocative publicity’’ in her latest music songs. This is because shesuggested that drinking from the River Nile could make someone ill.

It’s still a long battle for artists across Egypt to win over their freedom of expression. But things have slowly began to change and one can only hope that courts will recognize the rights of the artists as well.